25th January, 2018
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Government has begun enlightenment campaign to stem tide of collapse buildings across the state.
Officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA in conjunction with the Enlightenment and Campaign unit of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, flagged off this year’s campaign in Yaba and Ebute Metta areas of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Thursday, as officials distribute fliers and address the public on the need to obtain building permits before erecting their structures and to engage the services of qualified engineers.
Areas visited included Iwaya, Makoko, Ebute Metta, among others.
General Manager, LASBCA, Engr. Lekan Shodeinde said essence of the enlightenment and sensitization campaign was to let the public know that they needed to follow due process in erecting their structures in order to nip in the bud cases of building collapse.
He also said that people who already owned houses without obtaining permit could now come forward to obtain such as government had made it easy for them, adding that government had declared zero tolerance to building collapse in the state this year.
Shodeinde, who was represented by the Head of Department, Building Administration and Public Enlightement, LASBCA, Engr. Ajose Victoria-Taiwo said government would ensure that people who defaulted in following due process would be sanctioned appropriately, while warning residents not to break government seal used in sealing up defaulting premises.
According to him, people should employ the services of professionals in the process of erecting their buildings and ensure that contractor had general contractor insurance, while a project board must be placed on site.
“People must ensure that every stage of their construction is certified by relevant professionals. They should ensure adequate setbacks and airspaces are maintained. They should allow for storage of construction materials within the construction site and provide site facility for workmen convenience.
“People are warned not to build contrary to approval granted and must not stack building materials on the road. You must not start your construction without permit. You must not renovate or demolish without permit and you must not use bamboo scaffolding. People must not construct on the right of way of roads, power lines and pipelines and you must not construct on drainage channels,” he stated.
Shodeinde added that government was determined to ensure that people wanting to erect their buildings built right by embracing due process and institutional standards laid by the government.